How to Choose a Homebuilder Worth Trusting

Proven steps you can take to educate yourself on how to choose a homebuilder — ensuring your experience meets your expectations, your schedule, and your budget.

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Trust needs to be earned.

So what are you supposed to do when the time comes to build a new home, but you’ve never actually worked with a homebuilder?

Deciding who will build your home is stressful. No two ways about it. Especially when you consider, from start to finish, you’ll likely be working with them for six months – or more.

Fortunately, there are proven steps you can take to educate yourself about local homebuilders, ensure your homebuilding experience is smooth and your new home is delivered on time and to your specifications.

Note: If you’re building a custom or highly personalized home, we recommend hiring your builder early in the design stages, to better control costs and expectations over the life of your project.

1. Determine What YOU Want First

Start your research by first determining what you, as the customer, expect out of your builder.

What are your top priorities for your new home? What are the non-negotiables?

Ask yourself:

Am I willing to compromise on the size or layout of my new home?

Is my budget 100% firm, or am I able to flex in either direction?

Is my move-in date set in stone?

What are my thoughts on the quality of building materials vs. overall cost?

Do I know where I want to build

Next, you need to ask yourself, ‘what do I expect from your homebuilder during and after construction?’

How often do I expect communication and updates?

What kinds of warranties do I expect to see?

(If you’re not building custom) how much control do I want over the personalization of home details and appliances?

Two Things You Should Always Expect

No matter who you decide to work with, your homebuilder should facilitate clear and constant communication – to your satisfaction. Can you contact your builder on weekends? Do they have a full-time staff or a software solution to ensure you’re kept in the loop whenever it’s convenient for you?

Whoever you choose will be a big part of your life for the next few months (or longer), so the most important thing to establish early on is whether or not you think you can work with them well.

Are they easy to communicate with?

Do they seem knowledgeable and answer your questions clearly?

4. Collect and Actually Talk to Their References

If you don’t have the chance to tour a previous customer’s home, be sure to spend some time investigating at least one model home. Seeing and feeling a completed living space – in person – will go a long way towards helping you make your final decision.

One of the quickest ways to put your mind at ease will be talking to people, like yourself, who chose to work with a particular homebuilder. After collecting references from your potential builders, be sure to follow-through. Don’t accept a list as proof of approval.

Make some phone calls and ask about the planning process.

How accurate were the builder’s estimates?

Was a building schedule clearly communicated?

Were finances handled openly, without any hiccups?

How was it working with the builder once the project was started?

Did the project feel organized?

How often was the builder in contact with you?

What were your experiences with their sub-contractors?

How did the builder handle deadlines?

Were they upfront about change orders?

Was the home delivered on time and on budget?

It’s safe to assume that a new home tops the list of “Big Life Purchases,” so it’s important to partner with a company that has your best interest at heart. If you trust your instincts and follow some of the ideas mapped out here, you’ll be one step closer to a home that fits your lifestyle, your budget, and your plans.

Schedule Your Free Consultation

To discuss a new home or remodel, send us an email and our staff will contact you directly!

Buildertrend gives you access to your homebuilding or remodeling project in real-time, with the ability to share selections, sign change orders electronically, and monitor progress with photos and a shared calendar.